This was a real nice clambake

There are too few opportunities to see old friends from school. So it was a special treat to visit for a few hours recently with Ron and Jane Becker – teachers at Chadron High School in the late 1950s. They were spending a week at a resort in the northern Black Hills and invited Karen and me to join them one afternoon. We did so with great delight.

Students from that era will remember Ron Becker as the band and choir director. Jane Becker taught English and speech at CHS.

I have vivid memories of two performances produced by the Beckers. First was James Weldon Johnson’s God’s Trombones. The second was particularly memorable, because it involved so many students – Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel! Like so many things in life, the enormous effort put into these projects paid off with some real fun and great pride in being a part of such challenging productions.

Both Ron and Jane grew up in Lincoln and met at the university. As teachers, they were popular with the students – but they were no pushovers. They expected students to apply themselves, which didn’t mean we couldn’t and didn’t have fun along the way! 1960 at Chadron was Jane's last teaching job, since the Beckers adopted a little boy, Randy, and they moved to Scottsluff.

It was nearly three decades later that I had the good fortune to cross paths again with the Beckers. It was the late 1980s in Sioux Falls, when Ron and I conspired to have members of the Sioux Empire Arts Council, which he headed, man the telephones during an on-air pledge drive for South Dakota Public Broadcasting. I was Deputy Director of the South Dakota Network in those days. With only a little coaxing on my part, Ron also agreed to serve on the Friends of South Dakota Public Broadcasting Board of Directors.

His association with SDPB transcended my eight years with the network. In addition to his many years of service in support of SDPB, Ron also served on the Board of Directors for America’s Public Television Stations (APTS), where he gained the admiration and respect of lay and professional public broadcasting people all across the country. He and I crossed paths at many public television meetings, as shown in the photo below, taken at a Capitol Hill Day in Washington, D.C., probably in about 1999. That's Ron on the right.

Ron was as a senior administrator for the Sioux Falls Independent School District until he retired in 1994, although he agreed to return for a couple of administrative assignments. He finally hung it up in 1999. Ron also traveled extensively overseas evaluating the educational programs in schools operated by the Department of Defense for military dependents.

Now both retired, the Beckers live in Sioux Falls and continue to be active in the community, and they're able to spend considerable visiting their daughter Brenda and family in Sioux Falls and son Randy and family in Lincoln. The Beckers have four grandchildren.

Rushville native leads BSA

Rushville, Nebraska native John Gottschalk has been named President of the Boy Scouts of America. Late last year, he retired as publisher of the Omaha World-Herald, capping a successful journalistic career that started back at the Sheridan County (Neb) Star in the 1950s.

His father, Phil Gottschalk, was publisher of that small Nebraska weekly in Rushville, which had been founded by John’s maternal grandfather, Bill Barnes. The younger Gottschalk performed a variety of duties at the weekly, including back shop work. After high school in Rushville, he went to the University of Nebraska, majoring in political science and journalism. After graduating from the University of Nebraska, Gottschalk bought the Sidney (Neb) Telegraph in 1966 from his father and later also served as Mayor of Sidney. He sold the paper in 1974 and went to work for the Omaha World-Herald in 1975 as an assistant to the president.

Reading through John Gottschalk’s community involvements and philanthropic activities takes more than a few minutes. His civic accomplishments are many and varied; he and his wife, Carmen, have even served as foster parents, caring for more than 100 infants awaiting adoption.

With declining advertising revenue and circulation figures, most major dailies in this country are struggling for their very survival. The Omaha World-Herald, under John Gottschalk’s leadership, has girded itself from many of the demons knocking at the doors of nearly all newspapers across the country and appears to be doing quite well, thank you very much.

John Gottschalk helped diversify the company, which still has the World-Herald at its core, giving it a robustness not realized by many larger papers. The World-Herald is the 53rd largest newspaper in the United States, even though it’s in the 75th largest metropolitan area.

The paper is the only major newspaper in the country that is owned by its own employees.

It still publishes both morning and afternoon editions – something that used to be routine in most cities – but has become a real rarity in the 21st century.

We’re sure that even the World-Herald is facing some tough times, but they’re faring much better than most of their counterparts, thanks largely to John Gottschalk.

I suspect the Boy Scouts of America will benefit from his leadership as well.

Lynn Gorr (1942-2008)

It's always sad to read about the death of a friend.

In late July, I learned about the passing of Lynn Gorr, a member of the Class of 1960 at Chadron High School. Apparently, at the time of his death, Lynn was doing something he loved -- hiking and climbing. He was 65 years old.

Many who grew up around Chadron during the 1940s, '50s and early '60s will remember him as a quiet and studious fellow who loved the outdoors. I remember his infectous smile, which they apparently talked him out of in the Navy photograph shown here. Lynn played football at Chadron High and was an outstanding player and student.

Lynn married his high school sweetheart, Cyndi Huls, also a member of the Class of 1960 at Chadron High School. After Lynn's six-year tour of active duty in the Navy, they moved to the Seattle area to work and raise their family. Lynn's obituary provides additional information.

It was my good fortune to unexpectedly run across Lynn in the 1980s in Seattle. He had remained in the Naval Reserve after active duty -- as had I -- and we were both attending a Naval Reserve exercise at the old Sand Point Naval Base. That was a regular drill site for Lynn, still a proud member of the SeaBees. I was on special duty as an Emergency Preparedness Officer. Our meeting really was serendipitous, and we enjoyed it immensley.

Not until last spring did our paths cross again -- this time in Nebraska for a Chadron State College meeting. Unbeknownst to each other, we were among a fair-sized group formed to help raise funds for Chadron State College. We sat together at the session, along with our former CHS coach, Vern Lewellen, who now lives in Mitchell. We had a great time. We're saddened to know Lynn won't be with us down the road on this project.

As Lynn and I visited during that gathering in Chadron, I was taken by his obvious and unabashed pride in his family. Some of that pride is captured in a wonderful on-line memorial.

Our condolences to Cyndi and family. We were all blessed to know such a fine man as Lynn Gorr. He will be missed.

Danny Woodhead injured

We were sorry to hear that Chadron (Nebr) State College’s Danny Woodhead injured his left knee while practicing with the Jets last week. The NCAA’s career rushing leader, Danny has been placed on the “waived-injured list” after injuring his knee during practice with the New York Jet on Friday (7/25).

While we don’t know the extent of the injury, Coach Eric Mangini reportedly said that “it’s not looking good for him to be back anytime soon.” Woodhead is a native of North Platte, Nebraska, and helped to put Chadron State College on the map during his four spectacular years on the gridiron for the Eagles. He chalked up some 7,962 yards in four seasons. He won the distinguished Harlon Hill Trophy two years in a row, an honor afforded the NCAA Division II top player.

Nonetheless, we’re continuing to keep an eye on Danny Woodhead. We've always admired his attitude and spirit.

We’re also watching Zack Alcorn, a Chadron High School standout player who went to Black Hills State University for his college play. We’re told that he’s been released by the Seattle Seahawks. He’s another young man with lots of spunk. Whether or not his professional football career as a Tight End is drawing to an early conclusion, we don’t know. But we’re fairly certain that both these young men will do well in whatever they pursue.

The Jones Boys

Growing up in Chadron, Nebraska during the late 1940s, the '50s, and the '60s, it was nearly impossible not to know "The Jones Boys."

We're not talking about the fabled song of the 1950s by the Mills Brothers. We're talking about a family of boys and girls who were widely-known throughout Chadron and the area. This posting is not so much about that Jones family as it is one of a newer Jones generation.

However, to put it in context, it's wise to at least give a frame of reference.

The parents were Dick and Alice Jones. They lived in the Kenwood neighborhood of Chadron. I recall Dick was a mechanic, and in his later years worked for Chadron State College, but I don't believe Alice worked outside the home. She had kids to raise. Lots of kids! An interesting turn of events for a mother who'd been an only child.

Okay, I don't want to overstate it, but there were more than just one or two kids in their family. I think there were eight or nine. In order, probably: Billy, Rosemary, Ross, Rex, Ron, Don, Roger, Janice, and Judy.  (Note:  A kind soul has commented that there were actually eleven Jones kids, and that I overlooked the first and third children, Bonnie and Bob. Thanks for the correction!)  At the risk of minimizing all of this remarkable group -- I'm going to stay in my comfort zone and talk only about the ones I knew a little something about.  

Bonnie, Billy, Bob and Rosemary were the oldest. Ross, like most of the boys, was a good athlete and went into the Marine Corps. Rex was, I think, an even better athlete, becoming an outstanding football quarterback at Chadron High School AND Chadron State College. But Ron and Don were superb athletes, too. Don was a guard, Ron was quarterback. I remember Rex, Ron and Don as good basketball players, too. The last of the boys, Roger, was in my class of 1961. Like his brother, Don, Roger played guard and was tapped to play in the 1961 Shrine Bowl Football game. Roger and his wife, Judy, are retired and live in Iowa, but rumor has it that they're headed to warmer climes.

The younger girls were: Janice, who passed away a few years ago, after raising a family and working for many years at Chadron State College; and Judy. I have completely lost track of her.

But on a July morning this summer, near Iron Creek Lake south of Spearfish, I crossed paths with Rex Jones and his wife, Sharon. We were all at this beautiful locale to watch a Triathlon, involving about 120 younger folks who would swim, run and bike through this beautiful northern Black Hills enclave.

I was there because two of my amateur radio colleagues and I had agreed to provide communications for the event. Bob Weaver and Don Matthesen are veterans at this sort of thing. As perhaps one of the most inactive "ham" operators in the country, this was just my second time at this event. While Don and Bob went to the mid-point of the Mountain Bike ride, I remained near the finish line.

That's when I saw Rex and Sharon. And that's when I learned that their son, Rick, was competing in the Triathlon. That's Rick with his mom and dad, Rex and Sharon Jones in the photo below.

So, that's a long prelude to introduce a few pictures we took at Iron Creek Lake, mostly of Rick Jones, but there are some others, too. They're posted here, because, even if you've never met Rick Jones, if you remember those Jones boys of Chadron, you'll quickly identify Rick as a relative.

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Editor's Note:  (10/16/16)  We are saddened to report the passing of Rick Jones, who was featured in this story -- and its associated photo gallery.   Our sympathy to Rex and Sharon Jones and their family.  For a glimpse into the life of this remarkable young man, please read this  Obituary for Rick Jones.

Danny Woodhead and the New York Jets

We've been following Chadron State College standout running back Danny Woodhead for quite some time, and we were delighted to see that he signed a free agent deal with the New York Jets over the weekend. A North Platte native, Danny stands 5-7 1/2 and weighs 200 pounds; despite his relatively small size for being an NFL back (of course, they said that at Nebraska, too), he set a bundle of records at Chadron State and within Division II of the NCAA. Here's the news as reported by the Associated Press.

Leonard's dream: Lakota Circle Village

A friend from high school – Leonard Little Finger – is about to retire for a second time. But you wouldn’t know it by the ambitious project he’s pursuing near his Oglala, South Dakota home.

First, he retired as CEO of the Indian Health Service hospital at Pine Ridge, but that was some 18 years ago. Then he went back to school to get a teaching certificate and has taught school ever since, but he’ll retire this spring – from teaching, that is.

Leonard will likely be devoting his full effort toward fruition of a dream: Lakota Circle Village. At the core of the village will be a language school that will use immersion techniques to teach the Lakota language to children who are losing touch with their culture, largely due to the loss of their ancestral language.

I first knew Leonard as a high school student some 42 years ago in Chadron, Nebraska, where he graduated in 1958. Leonard and I played on the Cardinal football team, and I still remember my amazement at how such a quiet and soft-spoken student could be such an energetic football player. In retrospect, his pervasive high-energy, low-profile demeanor may be key to his success. Leonard and I shared a common gridiron fate: we both lost some permanent teeth in pursuit of the pigskin.

But that was likely one of the few things we had in common. Leonard was Lakota Sioux and came from South Dakota to attend high school in Chadron. Unlike the few other American Indian students I knew in our school – kids who seemed isolated and perhaps intimidated by their surroundings – Leonard Finger, as we knew him – participated in a full range of school activities and excelled academically. After he graduated and headed for college, it would be nearly three decades before out paths would cross again.

By the late 1980s, I was Deputy Director of South Dakota Public Broadcasting, and Leonard was Administrator of the Indian Health Service at Pine Ridge. He had agreed to serve on our Friends of Public Broadcasting Board of Directors. Within just a few years, I left South Dakota and Leonard finished his term on the Friends Board.

Then recently, on Good Friday, I had a good experience. I was shopping at Sam’s in Rapid City – as was Leonard – and we saw each other in the aisle. Despite the years that had gone by, we immediately recognized one another and had a short but delightful conversation. I was able to meet Leonard’s wife and one of his sons. Even during that short visit, Leonard’s vision for the Lakota Circle Village was readily apparent. Read more about it on the Lakota Village Circle web site.

Actually, that vision is becoming reality. One of the benefactors to the project is German rock superstar Peter Maffay, who has earmarked earnings from one of his music CD releases to help build the school, which is now complete. I admire Maffay for recognizing the importance of language in retaining cultural traditions. Ironically, I’ve tried to learn German as a way of connecting with my German-Russian heritage. Alas, despite earning a minor in German at college, I never had the benefit of language immersion. I have little doubt that a better knowledge of my ancestral language would help me better understand and appreciate my heritage.

Of course, the issue is more critical for the Lakota children, whose ancestors have inhabited this region of South Dakota for centuries, and the obstacles in the way of their pursuit of happiness are many.

Leonard Little Finger knows his way around the Rez…..and around the world. He has been a presenter to the United Nations Draft Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous People in Geneva, Switzerland. He has also spoken at the Bundestag (German parliament) in Bonn, Germany. Thankfully, he cherishes his roots and is committed to helping future generations know theirs. I am proud to call him a friend.